The Apple iPad Mini may be more real as expected by many. According to Taiwanese news publication Economic Daily News, two suppliers – Taiwan’s AU Optronics and South Korea’s LG Display – have sent samples of their display for a smaller version of the iPad to Apple. The sources of the publication told them that the Cupertino tech giant has already set the specifications for the tablet, which is set to ship next year.
The reported display size of the iPad Mini is 7.85 inches, and will have the same resolution as the iPad 2.
Brian White, an analyst from Ticonderoga Securities, noted that his research points towards Apple releasing a smaller iPad to take on Amazon’s Kindle Fire.
“Regarding Apple, our research is pointing to the unveiling of a lower priced iPad in the first few months of 2012 that is aimed at expanding the company’s market potential by tapping into a more price sensitive consumer segment,” White said in a statement. “Essentially, this ‘iPad mini’ will also fend off the recently announced Amazon Kindle Fire that addresses the low-end tablet market with a $199 price tag but could lead to bigger tablet ambitions from the online retailer in the future. The “mini” refers to a reduced price point of this iPad and not necessarily the size of the device. We believe this lower priced iPad could be priced in the mid-to-high-$200 range.”
In a previous earnings call, then Apple CEO Steve Jobs said that 7-inch tablets don’t make sense because 10 inches was the minimum size for a useful tablet.
Is Apple considering on taking on Amazon’s Kindle Fire by launching a smaller, but powerful, iPad Mini tablet?
via: Ubergizmo
